NBA News Blog – Page 439 – NBA Blog

Spurs trade Kawhi Leonard to Raptors for DeMar DeRozan

The San Antonio Spurs have obtained guard DeMar DeRozan, center Jakob Poeltl and a protected 2019 first round pick from the Toronto Raptors in a trade for forward Kawhi Leonard and guard Danny Green.

DeRozan was named to the 2018 All-NBA Second Team after averaging 23.0 points, 5.2 assists and 3.9 rebounds in 33.9 minutes in 80 games last season with Toronto. The 6-7, 220-pound guard shot .456 (645-1,413) from the field, .310 (89-287) from three-point range and .825 (461-559) from the free throw line. A four-time All-Star, DeRozan holds career averages of 19.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 675 games over nine NBA seasons. He earned All-NBA Third Team honors following the 2016-17 season when he ranked fifth in the league in scoring, averaging a career-best 27.3 points.

The ninth overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, DeRozan is one of 10 players in the league to average 20-or-more points in each of the last five seasons and has been named to three straight NBA All-Star teams. A gold medalist on the 2016 USA Olympic Team, he has earned Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors nine times and has been named the Eastern Conference Player of the Month three times (April 2015, January 2016 and January 2018).

Appearing in all 82 games, Poeltl averaged 6.9 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.22 blocks in 18.6 minutes for Toronto during the 2017-18 season. Selected by the Raptors with the ninth overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, the 7-0, 230-pound center has appeared in 136 games in his two-year NBA career, averaging 5.4 points and 4.1 rebounds in 15.8 minutes. Poeltl holds a career field goal percentage of .641 (320-499), which ranks fifth in the NBA among all players with at least 300 field goals made in the last two seasons.

Poeltl is both the first Austrian to be selected in the NBA Draft and to appear in an NBA game. He played two seasons at the University of Utah, earning All-American second team honors as a sophomore during the 2015-16 season. Poeltl was also named the 2016 Pac-10 Player of the Year and won the 2016 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award as the top center in college basketball.

Leonard is a two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year (2015, 2016) and twice was named First Team All-NBA (2016, 2017).

Leonard joins the Raptors after spending his entire seven-year NBA career with San Antonio and helped the Spurs win the 2014 NBA Championship. He holds career averages of 16.3 points, 6.2 rebounds and a .386 three-point shooting percentage (529-1370) in 407 career games. The Los Angeles native averaged a career-best 25.5 points in 74 games during the 2016-17 season and was third in NBA Most Valuable Player voting. In 87 career playoff games, Leonard averaged 16.5 points, 7.3 rebounds and is shooting .427 from beyond the arc (125-293). He was named the MVP of the 2014 NBA Finals after averaging 17.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and shot .579 (11-for-19) in five games against Miami.

Green spent the last eight seasons with San Antonio, averaging 9.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists in 25.8 minutes per game. In 520 games with the Spurs, Green posted a .396 (959-2421) average from three-point range and was a key contributor to the team’s 2014 NBA Championship title. A native of New York, Green played 70 games (60 starts) for the Spurs last season averaging 8.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 25.6 minutes. He was named to the NBA All Defensive Second Team during the 2016-17 campaign.

Pelicans sign Trevon Bluiett to two-way contract

The New Orleans Pelicans today signed guard Trevon Bluiett to a two-way contract.

Bluiett, 6-5, 215, joined the Pelicans’ Summer League team after going undrafted out of Xavier (OH) in 2018. In four Summer League games, Bluiett averaged 18.3 points on .565 shooting from the field, including .536 from three-point range. In his first two outings at the MGM Resorts NBA Summer League 2018 in Las Vegas, Bluiett scored 24 and 26 points, respectively, while connecting on six three-pointers in each contest.

In 142 collegiate games at Xavier, the Indianapolis native averaged 15.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists. During his senior season, Bluiett averaged 19.3 points while shooting .417 from three-point range on his way to being named to the All-Big East First Team for the third consecutive season, as well as a Consensus Second-Team All-American.

Per NBA rules, each team is allowed to carry two players on two-way contracts in addition to the standard 15 players on the roster. Players signed to two-way contracts will spend the majority of the year in the NBA G League, but can be called up to their NBA team for a maximum of 45 days during the season.

Kings and Grizzlies trade moves Ben McLemore, Deyonta Davis, Garrett Temple

The Sacramento Kings have acquired guard Ben McLemore, center Deyonta Davis, a 2021 second-round draft selection and cash considerations in a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies for guard Garrett Temple.

Selected seventh overall pick by the Kings in 2013, McLemore has accrued averages of 9.1 points (.417 FG%, .351 3pt%, .785 FT%), 2.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 24.5 minutes per contest in five NBA seasons with Sacramento (2013-14 – 2016-17) and Memphis (2017-18).

A 7-0 center, Davis was selected 31st overall by the Boston Celtics in the 2016 NBA Draft and has registered 4.3 points (.593 FG%, .640 FT%), 3.2 rebounds and 12.1 minutes in two seasons with Memphis.

In 65 games (35 starts) with Sacramento during the 2017-18 season, Temple (6-6, 195) averaged a career-high 8.4 points to go with 2.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 24.8 minutes per game while shooting .418 from the field, a career-best .392 from three-point range and .769 from the free throw line. Temple netted a career-high 34 points on January 23 at Orlando.

Undrafted in the 2009 NBA Draft, Temple joins Memphis with career averages of 5.5 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 19.1 minutes over 439 games (157 starts) with Houston, Sacramento, San Antonio, Milwaukee, Charlotte and Washington. The nine-year veteran has career shooting percentages of .405 from the field, .357 from three-point range and .725 from the free throw line.

A native of Baton Rouge, La., Temple averaged 6.7 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 33.1 minutes in 134 games (131 starts) over five years (2004-09) at Louisiana State University, helping the Tigers to the school’s fourth NCAA Final Four in a starting role as a redshirt freshman.

Nets sign Shabazz Napier

The Brooklyn Nets signed free agent guard Shabazz Napier today.

Napier (6’1”, 175) appeared in 74 games (nine starts) for the Portland Trail Blazers during the 2017-18 season, recording averages of 8.7 points (42.0 percent from the field and 37.6 percent from 3-point range), 2.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.1 steals in 20.8 minutes per game. The four-year NBA veteran has seen action in 233 career games with Portland (2016-18), Orlando (2015-16) and Miami (2014-15), posting averages of 5.7 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 15.7 minutes per contest.

The Roxbury, Mass., native was selected with the 24th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft by Charlotte and traded to Miami. Napier spent four years at the University of Connecticut, helping lead the Huskies to two national championships (2011 and 2014). As a senior, he earned consensus first-team All-America honors and was named the NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player, as well as the American Athletic Conference Player of the Year.

Nets sign rookie Rodions Kurucs

Rookie forward Rodions Kurucs has made the Nets.

The team today signed Kurucs, the 40th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, to a multi-year contract.

Players selected in the first round of the draft are guaranteed to receive a contract, but teams get to choose whether or not to sign second-rounders.

Kurucs (6’9”, 220), a forward from Cesis, Latvia, played the past three seasons for FC Barcelona II of Spanish LEB Gold. In 2017-18, the 20-year-old appeared in 16 games, averaging 10.7 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 steals in 20.8 minutes per game. Kurucs has also had stints with FC Barcelona in both ACB and Euroleague competition. He began his professional career with VEF Riga in his native Latvia.

Kurucs has represented Latvia in international competition, including being selected to the All-Tournament team after leading Latvia to the final of the FIBA U16 European Championship in 2014.

Knicks waive Troy Williams

The Knicks have waived Troy Williams.

A 6-foot-7, 220-pounds forward, Williams played in 17 Knicks games last season, and averaged 7.5 points on 49-percent shooting in 17.1 minutes per outing.

This summer, Williams participated in five games for the Knicks’ Vegas summer league team.

A native of Hampton, Virginia, Williams originally signed two consecutive 10-day contracts with the Knicks, the first back in February, and then in mid March signed on for the remainder of the season.

The Knicks now have 17 players under contract — 15 regular contracts and two Two-Way players.

Warriors sign Damion Lee to two-way contract

The Warriors on Saturday signed free agent guard Damion Lee to a two-way contract.

Lee, 25, appeared in 15 games (11 starts) with the Atlanta Hawks after earning a GATORADE Call-Up on March 13, recording averages of 10.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.36 steals in 26.9 minutes. In 38 games (13 starts) last season with the Santa Cruz Warriors. Lee averaged 15.8 points on 45.6 percent shooting to go along with 5.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.40 steals in 29.7 minutes.

The 6’6” guard was selected to the USA Basketball World Cup Qualifying Team that played two exhibition games in Santa Cruz on February 23 and 26, 2018. Lee recorded seven points, four rebounds and four assists in 33 minutes in wins over Cuba and Puerto Rico during the second window of the FIBA World Cup Qualifying first-round.

A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Lee played collegiately at Drexel University for four seasons before spending his redshirt senior season at the University of Louisville in 2015-16 as a graduate transfer. At Louisville, Lee started all 30 games and averaged 15.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 steals in 33.6 minutes per game.

Per NBA rules, teams are permitted to sign two players to two-way contracts in addition to the 15-man regular-season roster. Players signed to a two-way contract may accrue no more than 45 days of service with their respective NBA club during the regular season, spending the remainder of the season with the team’s G League affiliate. The Warriors’ two-way players will have the ability to spend time with both Golden State and the team’s G League affiliate in Santa Cruz.

Last season, two-way guard Quinn Cook appeared in 33 games (18 starts) with Golden State, averaging 9.5 points on 48.4 percent shooting from the field, 2.7 assists and 2.5 rebounds in 22.4 minutes per game. The guard signed a multiyear contract with the Warriors on April 10, 2018.

Jazz sign Naz Mitrou-Long to two-way contract

The Utah Jazz have signed guard Naz Mitrou-Long (pronounced as me-TRUE) to a two-way contract.

Mitrou-Long (6-4, 218, Iowa State) originally signed a two-way deal with Utah last season on Dec. 23, as well as a two 10-day contracts on Feb. 11 and Feb. 24. He appeared in one game for the Jazz, tallying three points against Denver on Dec. 26. Mitrou-Long also appeared in 40 games (35 starts) for the team’s G League affiliate the Salt Lake City Stars, averaging 18.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.2 steals in 35.0 minutes per game. The 24-year-old totaled 17 games with 20-plus points and four games with 30-plus points, including a Stars-record 37 points on 9-of-15 from three on March 19 against Rio Grande Valley.

The Canadian has appeared in three games for the Jazz entry at the 2018 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, averaging 8.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists. He also competed in three games at the Utah Jazz Summer League, posting averages of 10.7 points on 67.0 percent from the field, 5.0 boards and 4.7 assists in 20.3 minutes per contest.

A four-year collegian at Iowa State, he averaged 15.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists during his senior season with the Cyclones, earning 2017 All-Big 12 Second Team honors. The guard also shot 47.0 percent from the field and led the conference with 2.8 three-point field goals per game, also connecting on a team-high 98 three-point attempts, which was the third highest in a single-season in school history.

Over his four years at Iowa State, Mitrou-Long appeared in 131 games (83 starts), averaging 9.5 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists, helping to lead the Cyclones to three Big 12 Championships. He would finish his collegiate career with 260 three-point field goals, the second most in school history, in addition to becoming just one of 11 players ever for Iowa State to tally 1,200 points, 300 rebounds and 200 assists over his career.

Born in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, Mitrou-Long played high school basketball at Findlay College Prep in Henderson, Nev.

Miami Heat re-sign Wayne Ellington

The Miami Heat re-signed guard Wayne Ellington today.

“It’s great to have Wayne back,” said HEAT President Pat Riley. “He is one of our leaders. We are very pleased that he made the choice to stay. It means a lot to us.”

According to the South Florida Sun Sentinel, “Ellington agreed to a one-year, $6.3 million contract, matching his salary from this past season. Because of the one-year term of the deal and Ellington’s status as a Bird Rights free agent next summer, his contract comes with a no-trade clause, requiring his permission for a move during the 2018-19 season.”

Ellington, who was originally signed by the HEAT on July 10, 2016, appeared in 77 games (two starts) with Miami last season and averaged 11.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 26.5 minutes while shooting 40.7 percent from the field, 39.2 percent from three-point range and 85.9 percent from the foul line. He connected on 227 three-point field goals, the most for a single-season in HEAT history while tying the sixth-most in the NBA last season. His 218 treys off the bench were the most by a reserve in NBA history and were 63 more than the next highest player off the bench in the league. He recorded his 259th triple in his 100th game as a member of the HEAT on December 5 vs. New York, the most in franchise history for a player’s first 100 games with Miami, surpassing the previous record of 233 treys by Tim Hardaway. He tallied 52 made three-point field goals in December, the most by any player during a single-month in team history. He then matched that by hitting 52 in the following month in January to tie his own record. Ellington hit at least six three-point field goals 12 times last season, the most for a single-season in team history, including a franchise-record eight off the bench twice, first on December 22 vs. Dallas and then again on April 11 vs. Toronto where he hit six of those in the fourth quarter, the most for a fourth quarter in team history. Additionally, he paired with Josh Richardson (127), Tyler Johnson (119), Goran Dragić (111) and Kelly Olynyk (106) to each connect on at least 100 three’s last season to become the first group of at least five HEAT players to accomplish the feat in a single-season.

Nuggets trade Kenneth Faried and Darrell Arthur to Nets

The Brooklyn Nets have acquired forwards Kenneth Faried and Darrell Arthur, along with a protected 2019 first round draft pick and a 2020 second round draft pick, from the Denver Nuggets in exchange for guard Isaiah Whitehead.

According to the New York Post, “the Lin trade erases his $12.5 million expiring deal from the books.”

More from the Post: “Nets get Faried, and his $13.8 million expiring salary, as well as Darrell Arthur to get a 2019 first-round pick (protected 1-through-12) and a 2020 second-rounder.”

“DA is one of the best guys I have ever come across in all my time in the league,” said Nuggets President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly . “When we traded for him, he and his amazing wife Niecy instantly impacted our community. They have done so much to help those in need, and almost all of it was done with no fanfare. As a player his toughness, ability to guard multiple positions and stretch the floor will be sorely missed. As a person it’s hard to quantify what he has meant to our team. Brooklyn is getting one of the league’s true gentleman.”

“There aren’t many players in the league who play with more energy or passion than Kenneth Faried,” stated Connelly. “To watch him develop as a player and a man in Denver has been a joy to watch. Last season he handled a diminished role like a consummate professional. I’m excited for his next opportunity, but he will certainly be missed.”

Faried (6’8”, 228) averaged 5.9 points and 4.8 rebounds in 14.4 minutes per game over 32 games for the Nuggets during the 2017-18 season. The Newark, N.J., native played seven seasons for Denver, registering averages of 11.4 points and 8.2 rebounds in 24.9 minutes per contest through 441 career games. Selected with the 22nd pick in the first round of the 2011 NBA Draft by the Nuggets, Faried earned All-Rookie First Team honors following his inaugural season. The Morehead State product was a two-time Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year and three-time OVC Defensive Player of the Year.

Arthur (6’9”, 235) played in 19 games for the Nuggets during the 2017-18 season, averaging 2.8 points in 7.4 minutes per contest. The Dallas, Texas, native has posted career averages of 6.5 points and 3.5 rebounds in 17.8 minutes per game in 503 career games over nine NBA seasons with Denver (2013-18) and Memphis (2008-13). Arthur was selected with the 27th pick in the first round of the 2008 NBA Draft by New Orleans. He spent two years at the University of Kansas, where he earned All-Big 12 First Team honors as a sophomore and helped lead the Jayhawks to the 2008 National Championship.

Whitehead played in 89 games for Brooklyn over the past two seasons, recording averages of 7.2 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 20.5 minutes per game. He was selected with the 42nd overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft by Utah and was acquired by Brooklyn in a draft-night trade.